Majority of Hungarians say hospitals are in a catastrophic state, government says all is well

péterfy hospital Budapest Hungarian health care system
Photo: Daily News Hungary ©

The Pulzus Media Research poll, conducted by 24.hu, shows a devastating picture of what people think about hospitals.

According to this survey:

  • 37 percent of people think that patients are treated in unworthy conditions in most hospitals, while another 15 percent believe that the conditions in most hospitals are disastrous, both in terms of the hospital building and its technical equipment.
  • 74 percent are dissatisfied with the cleanliness of hospitals, 54 percent say that bathrooms and toilets are dirty and worn, with no toilet seats or paper, soap or hand towels. 32 and 25 percent respectively said that common hospital rooms were not cleaned properly. 14 percent had encountered insects (cockroaches, spiders, bloodsuckers) during their hospital stay.
  • 88 per cent are dissatisfied with the hygiene of hospitals. 50 percent know or have heard of someone who has contracted an infection in hospital.
  • 56% are either very (41%) or very (15%) afraid that either they or a relative cared for in hospital will get an infection.
  • 91 per cent see a clear link between the professional quality of patient care and hospital conditions, i.e. that hygiene deficiencies and the resulting hospital-acquired infections can endanger the health and lives of patients.
  • 69% of them think that hospitals should receive more money to improve the operation and maintenance of hospital buildings.

The government says all is well

The government is committed to improving Hungary’s healthcare system, Bence Rétvári, interior ministry parliamentary state secretary, said on Monday, noting that next year the health budget will be boosted by 425 billion forints (EUR 1.13bn) compared with last year.

Healthcare spending has grown from 1,100 billion forints to 3,200 billion in the past decade, Rétvári said at an awards ceremony held marking Semmelweis Day, adding that the number of doctors had also risen appreciably, with 1,000-1,500 graduating from medical universities each year, 1.5 times more than ten years ago.

While in 2010, there were close to 34,000 doctors, this has risen to more than 40,000, while those applying to work abroad has fallen to one-third, he said.

Retvari noted the positive effects on the ban on so-called gratuity payments to doctors which had distorted the health-care system for around 70 years, adding that at the end of last year only 1 percent of Hungarians saw gratuity as a problem.

Hungarian healthcare workers to get a long-awaited pay rise in July, details HERE.

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